Waco, McLennan County
Born at nearby McGregor, Texas, Pat M. Neff was the ninth child of Noah and Isabella (Shepherd) Neff. He was educated at Baylor University and the University of Texas Law School. As a young Waco lawyer, Neff was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, where he served three terms, 1899-1903, the last as Speaker of the House. He later held the office of McLennan County Attorney, 1906-12. He was elected as Texas' 27th governor in 1920 and inaugurated on Jan. 18, 1921. Gov. Neff supported improved roads and educational and prison reform. He appointed the first state park board to begin a park system. In 1922 he won a second term in the governor's office. In 1927 Neff was appointed to the Federal Railway Mediation Board and in 1928 was named chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission. He resigned that post in 1932 to become president of Baylor University, where he had been a trustee for 29 years. He presided over the growing institution until 1947. Neff was a prominent Baptist and Mason. He was married in 1899 to Myrtle Mainer (d. 1953) and had two children: Hallie Maude (Mrs. Frank Wilcox) and Pat M. Neff, Jr. Gov. Neff died in 1952 and was buried in Waco's Oakwood Cemetery.